Staging

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to staging, preferably articulated staging, of the kind which is suspended from a support along the side of or around a work piece: the staging is generally formed of floor sections and upright side sections attached to the floor sections and also has hanger members, each hanger member having a top crosspiece to receive means from which the staging can hang.

United States Patent William Charles Coombs The Cottage Woodland lven, Bnckin England 8 1 1,876 Apr. 1, 1969 Aug. 24, 1971 Apr. 11, 1968, Jan. 29, 1969 Great Britain 17,737/68 and 5,059/69 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Priority STAGING 4Cla1ins,1lD|-awing1 1gs.

us. 182/150 1m. Cl. E04g3/10 Fieldofsearch 182/113, 142,150,222

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 957,324 5/1910 G311 182/150 1,506,114 8/1924 Donaggio 182/150 X 2,057,092 10/1936 Geib 182/150 X 2,582,385 1/1952 Knudsenm. 182/150 X 2,839,123 6/1958 Summitt 182/150 X 3,464,520 9/ 1969 Anderson 1 82/ 142 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney Dowell & Dowell ABSTRACT: This invention relates to staging, preferably articulated staging, of the kind which is suspended from a support along the side of or around a work piece: the staging is generally formed of floor sections and upright side sections at tached to the floor sections and also has hanger members, each hanger member having a top crosspiece to receive means from which the staging can hang.

PATENTEU AUG24 l9?! SHEET 2 OF 6 PATENTEDAHB24|97| 3.601.222

SHEET u UF 6 2 lgenlor PATENTEU AUG24|97| 3,601. 222

sum 5 OF 6 SHEET 8 BF 6 I STAGING This invention relates to staging of the kind which is suspended from a support along the side of or around a work piece. Preferably, the staging is articulated staging.

Staging is used extensively in building, decorating and allied trades, for example where it is desired to repoint the brickwork of a house or factory or factory chimney, and there is a need for staging that is easy to assemble in various lengths and which provides an unobstructed walkway from which a workman can work with a minimum of effort. It is an aim of this invention to provide such staging.

To this end, staging in accordance with the invention comprises the following one-piece components in combination:

1. at least two rectangular floor sections arranged in end to end relationship;

2. at least two hanger members each having a top crosspiece by which said staging can be hung; and I 3. side sections bounding the longer sides of said floor sections, said side sections having a frame and being fixed to the sides of said hanger members; said staging being closed at each end and having intermediate its closed ends an uninterrupted walkway which is formed by said floor sections and said side sections, said top crosspiece of each hanger member being situated at a height above said floor sections which will not obstruct the walkway to persons workingon said staging, and said one-piece components of said staging (a) being fitted together by means which enable said one-piece components to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled, and (b) being such that ad-. ditional one-piece components can be added to them to increase said staging to any desired length. Preferably, the staging includes one-piece component end sections for terminating the walkway formed by'the floor sections and the side sections.

It has been found advantageous to join at least two of the floor sections by an articulating joint so that the floor sections can pivot with respect to one another. For example, the two floor sections and their associated side sections can be separated by an articulated joint section forming the articulated joint between the two floor sections, the articulated joint section having a base floorplate. The articulated joint section advantageously has hand rails supported on side sections to avoid the formation of a gap between adjacent side sections of adjacent floor sections. It has been found that is a safe working maximum angle for a flooring section to slope from the horizontal. I

it is presently preferred that the whole of the staging be made of metal although it will be obvious that one or more parts of the staging could be made of another material, for example a rigid plastics material. We have found that an especially desirable metal for forming the staging is an aluminum alloy since the resulting staging is both strong and light. Moreover, aluminum alloy staging has a bright, clean appearance and is not easily corroded under normal conditions of use. g I 1 Each end of each of the floor sections may be attached to the side sections and-if desired be formed with a downwardly depending lip which clips into a central aperture in a hanger base. When-the floor sections are clipped into the central aperture and are not also clipped to the side sections, the floor sections are also preferably positively attached to the hanger base by a separate fixing means. when the walkway is terminated by an end section, it is to be understood that the outermost downwardly depending lip of the last floor section the last floor section and the side sections, and to provide a an outrigger support member may be used at the junction between the floor sections. The outrigger support will usually have two upstanding side members having means for attaching thereto the side sections and'will also usually have stabilizing bars attached to the said upstanding side members. The

allow water and small pieces of debris to pass therethrough to leave the walkway as clear as possible. However, where per-=' sons are likely to be below the suspended staging, it is normally desirable to have a solid floor i.e. not an open mesh one. The solid floor may be an extruded section and may be made of aluminum alloy, timber or plywood. The floor sections desirably have longitudinal sidewalls, forming kick plates which sidewalls preferably form an integral part of the floor sections. These sidewalls act to define the longitudinal edges of the walkway and a workman can feel them with his feet when he is standing close to them and is thereby given an indication of his position on the walkway without the need to constantly look down. Moreover the side walls act to prevent tools that are inadvertently dropped or kicked along the walkway from falling off the walkway and possibly harming pedestrians passing underneath the staging.

The side sections of the staging may be formed from tubes, preferably aluminum alloy tubes welded together, to give an open frame construction. Usually, the side sections will comprise a top and a bottom tube each extending parallel to the floor section or sections, the top and bottom tubes each having flattened ends at which connection with the hanger side hanger side members will usually have means for receiving the flattened ends of the top and bottom tubes of the side sections. Preferably the means for receiving the flattened ends of the top and bottom tubes and the flattened ends of the top and bottom tubes are apertured so that the side sections can be bolted orpinned, e.g. by dropnose pins, to the hanger side members.

The end sections of the staging may comprise two side members, preferably of square cross-sectional area, and at least a base crosspiece. The side members of the end sections may have U-brackets projecting therefrom and adapted to receive the flattened ends of the top and bottom tubes of the side sections, the plates being apertured so that the end sections can be bolted or pinned to the side sections.

The staging of this invention can be suspended from a support by ropes, cables or wires and can be raised or lowered by means of winches, e.g. manual, electric, pneumatic or hydraulically operated winches. Advantageously, hand winches or the powered winches described and claimed in our copending application Ser. No.: 811,875 filed on Apr. 1, 1969 concurrently herewith, can be mounted on the staging. in the case of hand winches, these can be mounted on one of the two side members of a hanger member and a cable to the winch can be first led around two pulleys fixed near the apex of the hanger member. If desired, the staging can be keyed in the wall of a structure and the staging hoisted up and down the keys.

In cases where it is not convenient to fit a cable to the top crosspiece of the hanger member, a beam can be suspended between the top of two hanger members and the cable attached to any of various spaced points provided on the beam. Preferably, the beam will be of an open framework construction.

Because of the modular unit construction of the staging of the invention it can be used on circular structures such for example as chimneys, cooling towers, tanks and gasometers. In its most sophisticated form as an enclosed heated staging with provision for power tools, it enables external work to be carried out under internal conditions. Furthermore, the staging can be rigged and operating in a tenth of the time required to erect traditional tubular scaffolding. The staging may be positively heated or the side sections may merely be enclosed to provide a wind break.

When the staging employs one or more articulated joints, it consists of a number of modular components which can be easily and quickly assembled to form a linked enclosed, suspended safe working platform of any length, arranged at one or differing levels (vertical pivoting) and ofiering variations in contour (horizontal pivoting).

The articulated joint ensures that the stresses in the winches are equalized when more than two are employed to support a continuous assembly. Moreover, because of this feature the number of winches may be reduced.

A complex staging can be raised or lowered with complete safety without the need for precise coordination by operatives located at the winch controls on each section.

The staging may be assembled by site labor and every component may be light enough to handled by one man. Considerably savings in time develop because operatives reach the work area very quickly and safely. Economies in the size and number of platforms used accrue because a single platform can be adjusted to traverse the full elevation of any building from which it .is suspended. Savings are also obtained in ground space because the suspended staging leaves the ground area unencumbered by scaffolding. This enables other trades to work on the ground or this area may be used for storage or transport.

Advantageously, the staging of this invention can be fitted with a shock absorber, for example fitted to the side sections of the staging to cushion the effect of the staging bumping againstthe side of a building. Preferably, the shock absorber comprises a resilient roller, e.g. an expanded plastics foam roller, supported on a spindle. The spindle is itself positioned between support arms extending from and attached to the staging. Preferably the support arms are clipped to the staging.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded view of various staging components;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first type of assembled stag- 8;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the staging shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a beam which can be fixed to the tops of two hanger members;

FIG. 5 is an end view of an outrigger support;

F [G6 is a front perspective view in diagrammatic form, of a second type of assembled staging;

F IG. 7 is a front perspective view in diagrammatic form, of a third type of assembled staging and differing slightly from the staging shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an articulated joint section used in the staging shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of staging suitable for a single operator;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of yet another modified form of staging'.

FIG. 11 shows the staging of FIG. 2 with a shock absorber thereon.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the staging comprises aluminum alloy floor sections 2 having downwardly depending lips 4 and sidewalls 6. The flooring is of open mesh construction to allow water and small pieces of debris to pass therethrough. The lips 4 clip into a control aperture in a base 8 of an aluminum alloy hanger member indicated generally at 10. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 3, the sides of the base 8 defining the central aperture are fon'ned with support flanges for the floor sections. Each hanger member 10 also comprises two side members 12 and a top crosspiece 14. The cross piece 14 is apertured at 15 to receive a cable or hook from which the assembled staging can hang. Aluminum alloy side sections 16 forming part of the staging comprise tubes welded together at 18 and the top and bottom tubes 20 and 22 respectively are flattened at their ends 24 and are provided with holes 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base members of the hanger members 10 comprise a pair of spaced angle irons 8a having their ends connected to the lower ends of the side members 12 of the hanger members, at opposite sides thereof, respectively,

the space between the angle irons 8a forming a central aperture in the hanger base 8 receiving the downwardly turned lips 4 of the adjacent floor sections 2.

Each flattened end 24 is received within a U-bracket 28, having holes 30, protruding from the side members 12 of the hanger member 10. Bolts 32 are then passed through the holes 26 and 30 so that the side sections 16 can be bolted to the hanger members 10.

The end of the walkway formed by the staging is terminated by an end section 34 comprising two side members 36, a base crossbar 38 and a central crossbar 40. The end lip 4' of the outermost floor section 2' clips over the base crossbar 38. The side members 36 have apertured U-brackets 42 to enable the end section 34 to be bolted to the flattened end 24' of the side sections 16. The beam shown in FIG. 4 may be secured between crosspieces 14 of hanger member 10 a cable, hook, or the like, then being attachable at any desired position along the length of the beam.

The outrigger support shown in FIG. 5 has a base 50 over which clips the flooring sections 2. Two upstanding side members 52 and 54 each have attached thereto a curved stabilizing bar 56 and 58 respectively. The top end of the side members 52 and 54 are provided with plates 60 and 62 respectively for allowing connection of the side sections 16 thereto.

Referring to FIG. 6, the staging has floor sections 2, hanger members 10 and side sections 16 as is the case for the staging shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Each two adjacent floor sections 2 are separated by an articulated joint section 80. As shown most clearly in FIG. 8, each articulated joint section comprises a base plate 82, upstanding side plates 84 and guide rails 86. The base plate 82 is situated between two floor sections 2 and the guide rails 86 span the gap between adjacent side sections 16 caused by inserting a joint section 80. The side plates 84 are solid right angled triangular shaped plates, the guide rails 86 being fixed to the longest side of the plates. The sides plates 84 are apertured and the apertures receive means for connecting the joint sections 80 in position in the staging, pivoting taking plate at floor section level about the connecting means situated in the aperture in the base of the triangular side plate 84 and nearest to the hypotenuse of the triangle. It will be noted from FIG. 6 that by having a joint section 80 between adjacent floor sections 2, the assembly shown at A-A is repeated.

The staging shown in FIG. 7 is similar to that shown in FIG. 6 except that only two joint sections 80 are used to provide a single inclined floor section 2 at an angle of 15 to the horizontal.

In both of the staging constructions shown in FIG. 6 and 7, the floor sections 2 are clipped over the horizontal base bars 88 of the floor sections 2.

The modified staging shown in FIG. 9 also forms part of the present invention. It will be seen that it is a single integral unit similar to the staging described above and formed basically of two hanger members 10 and a floor section 6. A bar 70 joined across the tops of the two hanger members 10 is apertured at 72 to allow the modified staging to be suspended from a cable (not shown). In the case of the modified staging, the two hanger members 10 are joined by rods 74 and chains 76. It is to be understood that the chain 74 or 76 is unhooked from one of the side members 12 of the hanger members 10 to allow an operator to step into the unit. The chain 74 or 76 can then be reconnected to minimize any risk of the operator falling from the unit.

The modified staging shown in FIG. 10 and forming part of this invention is a 90 corner unit which can be raised or lowered along the corner of a structure. The corner unit is indicated generally by numeral 90 and is formed basically of a three-legged hanger member 92, a three-sided side section 94 and a floor section 96. The floor section 96 has a kick plate 98.

A further modified form of staging in accordance with the invention isa completely or nearly completely circular staging for factory chimneys and the like. Such a staging may look like the staging shown in the drawings but will be circular instead of straight. I

As shown in FIG. 11, shock absorber rollers 100 of expanded plastic foam are mounted on spindles 105. The spindles 105 are supported at their ends by support arms 110 extending from and attached or clipped to the side sections 16 of the staging to cushion the effect of the staging bumping against the side of a building.

I claim:

1, Staging comprising the following one-piece components in combination:

1. at least two rectangular floor sections arranged in end to end relationship, each floor section having sidewalls along its longer sides;

. at least two hanger members each having a top A-shaped crosspiece by which said staging can be hung and a base crosspiece extending between the sides of said hanger member;

. articulating joint means joining two of the floor sections so that the said two floor sections can pivot with respect to one another, said articulating joint means comprising a base foot plate and hand rails supported on side plates; sidesections bounding the longer sides of said floor sections, said side sections having a frame and being fixed to the sides of said hanger members or to said side plates of said articulating joint means; and

5. roller cushioning means for preventing said staging from knocking against and damaging a structure alongside of which it is suspended;

said staging being closed at each end and having intermediate itsclosed ends an uninterrupted walkway which is formed by said floor sections and said side sections, said top A-shaped crosspiece of each hanger member being situated at a height above said floor sections which will not obstruct the walkway to persons working on said staging, and said one-piece components of said staging (a) being fitted together by means which enable said components to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled, and (b) being such that additional one-piece components can be added to them to increase said staging to any desired length.

2. Staging comprising the following one-piece components in combination:

1. At least two rectangular floor sections arranged in end to end relationship, each floor section having sidewalls along its longer sides;

. at least two hanger-members each having a top A-shaped crosspiece by which said staging can be hung and a base crosspiece extending between the sides of said hanger member;

3. articulating joint means joining two of the floor sections so that the said two floor sections can pivot with respect to one another, said articulating joint means comprising a base foot plate and hand rails supported on side plates; and

4. side sections bounding the longer sides of said floor sections, said side sections having a frame and being fixed to the sides of said hanger members or to said side plates of said articulatingjoint means;

said staging being closed at each end and having intermediate its closed ends an uninterrupted walkway which is formed by said floor sections and said side sections, said top A-shaped crosspiece of each hanger memberbeing situated at a height above said floor sections which will not obstruct the walkway to persons working on said staging, and said one-piece components of said staging (a) being fitted together by means which enable said components to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled, and (b) being such that additional one-piece components can be added to them to increase said staging to 

1. Staging comprising the following one-piece components in combination:
 1. at least two rectangular floor sections arranged in end to end relationship, each floor section having sidewalls along its longer sides;
 2. at least two hanger members each having a top A-shaped crosspiece by which said staging can be hung and a base crosspiece extending between the sides of said hanger member;
 3. articulating joint means joining two of the floor sections so that the said two floor sections can pivot with respect to one another, said articulating joint means comprising a base foot plate and hand rails supported on side plates;
 4. side sections bounding the longer sides of said floor sections, said side sections having a frame and being fixed to the sides of said hanger members or to said side plates of said articulating joint means; and
 5. roller cushioning means for preventing said staging from knocking against and damaging a structure alongside of which it is suspended; said staging being closed at each end and having intermediate its closed ends an uninterrupted walkway which is formed by said floor sections and said side sections, said top A-shaped crosspiece of each hanger member being situated at a height above said floor sections which will not obstruct the walkway to persons working on said staging, and said one-piece components of said staging (a) being fitted together by means which enable said components to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled, and (b) being such that additional one-piece components can be added to them to increase said staging to any desired length.
 2. at least two hanger members each having a top A-shaped crosspiece by which said staging can be hung and a base crosspiece extending between the sides of said hanger member;
 2. at least two hanger-members each having a top A-shaped crosspiece by which said staging can be hung and a base crosspiece extending between the sides of said hanger member;
 2. Staging comprising the following one-piece components in combination:
 3. articulating joint means joining two of the floor sections so that the said two floor sections can pivot with respect to one another, said articulating joint means comprising a base foot plate and hand rails supported on side plates;
 3. Staging according to claim 2 in which said walkway is closed by one-piece component end closure sections.
 3. articulating joint means joining two of the floor sections so that the said two floor sections can pivot with respect to one another, said articulating joint means comprising a base foot plate and hand rails supported on side plates; and
 4. Staging according to claim 2 in which outrigger support means is situated at a junction between two floor sections, said outrigger support means having two side members to which said side sections are attached.
 4. side sections bounding the longer sides of said floor sections, said side sections having a frame and being fixed to the sides of said hanger members or to said side plates of said articulating joint means; said staging being closed at each end and having intermediate its closed ends an uninterrupted walkway which is formed by said floor sections and said side sections, said top A-shaped crosspiece of each hanger member being situated at a height above said floor sections which will not obstruct the walkway to persons working on said staging, and said one-piece components of said staging (a) being fitted together by means which enable said components to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled, and (b) being such that additional one-piece components can be added to them to increase said staging to any desired length.
 4. side sections bounding the longer sides of said floor sections, said side sections having a frame and being fixed to the sides of said hanger members or to said side plates of said articulating joint means; and
 5. roller cushioning means for preventing said staging from knocking against and damaging a structure alongside of which it is suspended; said staging being closed at each end and having intermediate its closed ends an uninterrupted walkway which is formed by said floor sections and said side sections, said top A-shaped crosspiece of each hanger member being situated at a height above said floor sections which will not obstruct the walkway to persons working on said staging, and said one-piece components of said staging (a) being fitted together by means which enable said components to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled, and (b) being such that additional one-piece components can be added to them to increase said staging to any desired length. 